Heavy Clashes’ Reported at Afghanistan–Pakistan Border: Taliban Forces

Afghanistan’s Taliban forces launched armed reprisals against Pakistani soldiers along the shared border on Saturday, following accusations that Islamabad had conducted air strikes on Afghan soil, senior officials from several provinces confirmed.

Sequence of Events

• Thursday: Two explosions were reported in Kabul, the Afghan capital, and a separate blast occurred in the southeast of the country.
• Friday: The Taliban-run Defence Ministry blamed Pakistan for the attacks, accusing its neighbour of violating Afghan sovereignty.
• Saturday: Taliban forces reportedly engaged in heavy clashes along the border in retaliation.

“In retaliation for air strikes carried out by the Pakistani army on Kabul, Taliban forces are engaged in heavy clashes against Pakistani security forces in various areas along the border,” the Afghan military stated.

Later on Saturday, Taliban Defence Ministry spokesman Enayat Khowarazm told AFP that the operations had concluded at midnight, describing them as “successful”.

“If the opposing side violates Afghanistan’s territory again, our armed forces are ready to defend their territory and will respond firmly,” Khowarazm warned.

Islamabad did not confirm responsibility for Thursday’s attacks but urged Kabul to stop harbouring the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) on Afghan soil.

The TTP, trained in combat in Afghanistan and sharing ideology with the Afghan Taliban, is accused by Pakistan of killing hundreds of soldiers since 2021.

Taliban officials from Kunar, Nangarhar, Paktia, Khost, and Helmand provinces—all bordering Pakistan—confirmed that clashes were ongoing.

A senior official in Pakistan’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, which borders Afghanistan, provided details to AFP: “This evening, Taliban forces began using weapons. We fired first light and then heavy artillery at four points along the border. Pakistani forces responded with heavy fire and shot down three Afghan quadcopters suspected of carrying explosives. Intense fighting continues, but so far, no casualties have been reported.”

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called on neighbouring countries to exercise restraint.

In recent months, TTP militants have intensified attacks against Pakistani security forces in the mountainous border areas.

• Accusations: Islamabad claims Afghanistan is failing to expel militants who use Afghan territory to launch attacks. Kabul denies the allegations.
• TTP Role: Most of the recent violence is attributed to the TTP and its affiliates, targeting security forces.
• UN Findings: A UN report earlier this year stated the TTP receives substantial logistical and operational support from the de facto Taliban authorities in Kabul.

Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif addressed parliament on Thursday: “We will not tolerate this any longer. United, we must respond to those facilitating them, whether the hideouts are on our soil or Afghan soil.”

Earlier on Saturday, the TTP claimed responsibility for deadly attacks in several districts in northwest Pakistan, resulting in 20 security personnel and three civilian deaths.

Border Clashes at a Glance